Starting mechanism for motor-engines.



P. J. DURHAM.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR ENGINES. APPLICATION map MAY 23. 1916.

1,244,482. Pa tented Out. 30, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

lnvc nfoz VM .9 3: 1 aflozhcg e1 P. I. DURHAM.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, IQIG.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 P. J. DURHAM. STARTING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR ENGINES.

lut'vnfml Oct 30, 1917.

3 SHEETS SHEET 3,

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERCY J. DURHAM, OF NEW YORK, Y.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR-ENGINES.

, T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERCY J. DURHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have made a certain new and useful- Invention in Startinu Mechanism for Motor- Engines, of which the following is a specificatinn;

This invention relates to starting mechanism for motor engines.

The object of the invention is to provide a startingmechanism for motor engines which is simple, strong, and durable in construction, noiseless in operating and which is easily and readily attachable and detachable.

' A further object is to provide a mechanism of the nature referred to wherein the strains in starting the engine shaft are efiiciently distributed and absorbed without danger of injury to the gearing employed.

A further object is to provide a structure of the nature referred to wherein the weight of the parts is carried at a low elevation with respect to the'motor engine thereby lowering the center of gravity of the engine structure and consequentlyreducing the vibrations incident to the operation of the pointed out in the appended claims.

. Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a view in side elevation of a portion of a motor engineshowing the application thereto of a starting mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the same, parts in vertical section on the line 2, 2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

. Fig. 4 is a detail view in front elevation with the gear casing removed, parts in section in a plane parallel to that indicated by line 2, 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view in section on the line 5, 5, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, parts broken off.

Specification'of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

Application filed May 23, 1916. Serial No. 99,289.

Fig. 6, is a detached detail view inffront elevation of the gear casing.

The same part is designated by the same reference numerals wherever they occur throughout the several views.

In the starting mechanisms for motor engines at present most commonly employed it is exceedinglydiflicult to make proper inspection or repairs because of the inaccessibility of the parts. Moreover, because of the strains imposed on the starting mechanism in starting up the motor engines, the danger is incurred of breaking off the teeth of the starting gears, or of warping or otherwise injuring the gearing. Again, the structures usually employed are so located that the engine oil, dust and dirt frequently gain access to the timing mechanism of the ignition devices thereby causing short circuits and sometimes dangerous and even disastrous back firing. It \is also a usual custom to mount the self starting electric motor as well as the lighting dynamo at a point of relativly high elevation upon the motor engine, thereby raising the center of gravity-of the engine structure and increasing the vibrations resulting from the operation of the engine, or, in case of an automobile, from the bumps and jolts to which the car is subjected when running over rough and uneven ground. .Where the engine cam shaft is employed to carry a gear wheel of the self starting gearing and through which the starting strains are transmitted, the usual structures heretofore commonly employed are inefficient for the purpose for the reason that the cam shaft bearings are ordinarily of insuliicient strength to take the starting strains thereby imposed thereon.

It is among the special purposes of my present invention to provide a construction of starting mechanism which avoids these and other objections, which is noiseless in operation, wherein all bearings are efficiently lubricated, wherein the strains in starting are efficiently absorbed and distributed,

wherein the structure is rugged strong and durable and therefore able to withstand without injury or expense of upkeep or repair the rough usage to which such mechanism is subjected, wherein the parts are easily accessible and readily attachable and detachable, and wherein they are so positioned and located as to lowerthe center of.

gravity of the engine structure.

In the drawings I have shown a structure embodying the principles of my invention,

wherein the motor engine is indicated at 7,

' and whichmay be of any type or structure.

The engine shaft is indicated at 8 and the cam shaft for controlling the valve mechanism of the engine is indicated at 9, thev latter being driven from the engine shaft 8, when the engine is running under normal condition through the intermeshing gears 10, 11, respectively carried by said shafts 8 and 9. Heretofore, and ordinarily, the only ing strains are transmitted, The cam shaft and its bearings are not ordinarily constructed nor designed to take the starting strains, and therefore, in accordance with my invention I employ an auxiliary bearing for the gear 11 upon which the said gear revolves freely during the operation of the engine after it is started, but which takes, absorbs and distributes the strains imposed in the operation of the starting mechanism. Such an auxiliary bearing for the gear wheel 11 may be provided in many different ways, and my invention in respect to this feature may be carried out and its advantages attained in many specifically different structures. While, therefore, I have shown and will now describe one practical embodi- 1nent,-I wish it to be understood that in its broadest scope as defined in the claims, my invention is not to be limited or restricted to the specific structure shown.

In carrying out my invention in respect to this feature instead of using a gear wheel 11 of the ordinary size and structure, I form said wheel with an extended bearing hub 12, in one face thereof. This may be accomplished in one practical embodiment by employing a comparatively wide gear wheel, or two similar gear wheels secured together. In the particular form shown the gear wheel 11 is formed with a comparatively thin web portion 13, through which the end of the cam shaft 9 extends, said gear whee-l being secured to rotate with the cam shaft in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by securing the side surface of the web portion 13 to a flange collar 14 on said shaft by means of screws or other securing devices 15. This connection of gear wheel 11 to the cam shaft is for such purpose.

suflicient to effect the actuation of the cam shaft from the engine shaft after the latter is started and is in operatihnfbut it is not sufficient to take the strains of the starting mechanism in starting up the engine. Hence I provide the extended bearing hub or ring portion 12, into which extends an annular flange 16, which is formed on or projects -laterally from the inner face of the ear casstarting mechanism for starting the engine shaft, thereby relieving the cam shaft and its bearings of said strains.

Rotation may be imparted to the gear 11 in starting the engine shaft in any suitable or convenient manner and by any usual or well known motor driven mechanism employed In the .form shown an electric motor 18 is employed to drive a screw shaft 19 on which operates a pinion 20, which, when the starting motor 18 is thrown into action is caused to travel along the screw shaft 19, into meshing engagement with a gear wheel 21, mounted on a short shaft 22, journaledin the gear casing, and which shaft also carries a pinion 23, meshing with gear wheel 11. 'When the starting motor 18 is'thrown out of action the nut gear 20, moves along the screw shaft 19, out

of meshing relation with, respect to gear 21. This provides a most simple, rugged, and durable gear train operated by the starting motor to drive the engine shaft in starting the latter, and wherein the starting strains are taken upon the fixed auxiliary bearing for the gear 11.,and which auxiliary bearing 1s formed on astationary part of the casing. This casing includes'the front plate 17 on which the bearing flange 16 is formed, and which plate is detachably applied by means of suitable bolts'24, tothe rear plate 25. of

the casing, thus forming a chamber in which the gears 11 and 10 are housed, gnd through which the shaft 22 extends. The cam shaft 9 also extends into this chamber, and since said chamber is open to the engine crankcase by inclosing the engine shaft gear Wheel 10, all the bearings are kept efiiciently lubricated by oil supplied from the engine crank shaft. Moreover, dust and dirt accumulation in the starting gear train is avoided.

It has heretofore been a common practice to mount the ignition timing drive upon the end of the cam shaft. WVhen so mounted this drive is subject to accumulation of dust, dirt and oil drippings from the engine which are liable to cause short circuiting and sometimes baclffiring. To avoid this disadvantage and serious objection I employ a time mehanism drive which includes a vertically extending shaft which is journaled in a bearing 26 formed in the gear casing plate 17, and which shaft carries the timing mechanism, indicated at 27, at its upper end. The timing shaft is driven from the cam shaft 9 through the intermeshing bevel gears 28, 29. a

In order to permitthe gear case front plate to be employed, with its flange bearing 16 for the gear wheel 11, and still permit the fan shaft 30 to be driven from the engine shaft 8, with the fan driven pulleys 31, 32, in proper vertical alinernent with each other, I provide the gear case front, plate 17 with an extension 33, to which the fan bracket 34 is secured. This extension 33 is off-set rearwardly from the front face of the plate 17, so as to bring the fan pulley 32 into proper line'with pulley- 31. The desired tightening of the fan belt 35, is effected by a set screw 36, tapped through a lug 37, on the casing plate 17, and bearing against a tail extension 38 on the fan bracket 34.

The dynamo unit 39 usually employed on motor vehicles for the lighting system or to charge the starting motor battery, or for other purposes may be operated in the usual or any well known or convenient manner. I have shown the dynamo shaft driven from gear 11, through a gear wheel 40.

In order to still further absorb and distribute the starting strains and at the same time afford means for easily, readily and quickly attaching'and detaching the starting motor, I provide the front plate 17 with a groove 41, on its inner face in which are received suitable studs 4:2 at the, end of the motor casing as the latter is slid into position. These studs, which may be the heads of the screws by which the front plate of the motor casing is held-in place, serve to resist rotative strains imposed on the motor casing in starting up the engine.

Another feature of importance of my invention resides in locating the starting motor and unit as well as the dynamo unit and their associated mechanisms at the base of the engine structure. This results in disposing the weight of these parts at a point such as to bring the center of gravity of the engine structure to a low point, thereby greatly reducing the vibration of the engine when in operation or when the machine, in the case of an automobile is operatingv over rough or uneven ground.

A. starting mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention and embodying the principles above set forth is easily and quickly detach'al'ile and attachable It is easily accessible for inspection or repair. It is strong and durable and capable of withstanding the rough and heavy usage to which it is subjected. It is self oiling and scribed.

when once installed requires no special care or attention.

It is obvious that many variations and changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts will readily occur to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I therefore do notdesire to be limited or restricted to the exactdetails shown and de- But having set forth the objects and nature of my invention, and a construction embodying the principles thereof what I claim as new and useful, and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a starting mechanism for engines,

and in combination with the engine shaft and the cam shaft, a gearfor simultaneouslyrotating said shafts, means for driving said gear, and an auxiliarybearing for said gear independent of both of said shafts to take the starting strains.

2. The combination with an engine shaft l. The combination with an engine shaft,

of a starting mechanism therefor including a power driven gear carried by a shaft, and a casing inclosing said gear, said casing having a bearing upon which said gear is journaled independently of said gear shaft.

5. The combination with an engine shaft, of a starting mechanism therefor including a power driven gear, having an extended hub portion and a fixed bearing extending into said hub portion to take the starting strains.

6. The combinationwith an engine shaft,

of a starting mechanism therefor including a power driven gear, having a circular hearing seat in one face thereof, and an annular bearing flange extending into said seat to form a bearing for said gear and take the starting strains. I

7. The combination with an engine shaft,

of a starting mechanism therefor including a powcrdriven gear, having a circular hearing seat, and a casing having a laterally extending annular flange promoting into said scat to form a bearing'for said gear and take the starting strains.

S. The combination with an engine shaft having a gear,'and a cam shaft having a gear, said gears meshing with each other, of

power driven starting mechanism engaging the gear on the cam shaft, and a casing to inclose said last mentioned gear, said casing having a bearing for said gear to take the starting strains.

9. The combination with an engine shaft, of a starting mechanism therefor including a power driven gear, a casing inclosing said gear and having a laterally extending bearing for said gear, said casing also having an off-set flange, a fan bracket secured to said flange, and means to drive the fan from the engine shaft.

10. A casing plate having a laterally extending annular bearing and an Offset flange, a fan bracket secured to said flange, an engine shaft, a fan shaft carried by the bracket and driven fromv said shaft, a gear Wheel journaled on said annular bearing and geared to said shaft, and a starting motor for driving said gear.

11. A casing plate having a laterally extending annular bearing and a groove on its inner face, an engine shaft, a gear Wheel journaled on said bearing and geared to said shaft, a starting motor for driving said gear, said starting motor having projections received in said groove. 0

12. A casing plate having a laterallyextending annular bearing and a verticallv disposed bearing, an engine shaft having a gear thereon, a cam shaft having a cooperating gear thereon, said cooperating gear also journalcd on said annular bearing, and a timing shaft journalcd in said vertically disposed bearing and geared to said cam shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, on this 12th day of May, A. D.

PERCY- J. DURHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained {or we cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner 0! Patente, Washington, D. G. 

